A/N: Hey readers! Thanks to those of you who are following, reviewing, and who've added this story to your Favorites. Your reviews have been so positive and encouraging and I can't thank you enough. So I'll settle for updating this chapter instead. ;)
Disclaimer: Only character that I own is Jaz. The rest of the characters belong to the lovely creators of NCIS.
Chapter Three: Havoc
Just then, a loud beeping started from one of the monitors.
I tried to go to the bed, but Callen's hands moved to my waist, pulling me tightly against him.
Doctors and nurses alike rushed into the room, and began moving so quickly that I wasn't sure what was going on. It seemed like time suddenly stopped- and I had no idea how to get it moving again.
I heard someone shout to "get her out of here!" but I didn't know who it was. I felt myself being dragged out.
Suddenly I was outside of the room and I heard Callen's voice telling me to stay calm.
"Look at me, look right at me, baby." He was telling me, and I did. I snapped out of it.
"Callen, what's going on? What is happening to him?" I asked, my voice sounding low and frightened.
"I don't know, Jaz. I don't know. Keep looking at me. Stay focused on me."
A doctor emerged from the room after what seemed like hours.
"Miss Gibbs?" He asked, gripping his chart in front of him. This doctor had brown hair, brown eyes, and appeared to be in his mid-thirties.
"That's me." I said as calmly as possible. I crossed my arms in front of me, digging my fingers into my arms. I felt Callen move behind me and put a hand on the small of my back.
The doctor glanced at Callen. "You are?"
"He is my adopted brother. I trust him with my life. What is your name?" I asked, my voice sounding steady. I was proud of myself for staying calm.
He looked dubious, but answered me. "I am Dr. Keller. Your father had some serious injuries from his attack. So far, his physical injuries seem to be healing, but what concerns me most is his head trauma, especially with his past history of head injuries and amnesia. It is quite possible that if he regains consciousness he may have a mild or severe case of amnesia, but there is no way of knowing for sure."
I held my breath. "Is there any way to tell when he will regain consciousness?"
Dr. Keller shook his head. "No, he will wake up when he's ready. But at this point, you need to prepare yourself for the possibility of him never waking up."
I turned away from him. "Has the internal bleeding stopped?" Callen asked.
"Yes, we've successfully managed to stop the bleeding, and the physical injuries will heal in time." He named the drugs my father was on, and then continued, "I'll be in later to check on him. If he does wake up, contact a nurse or myself." Dr. Keller left us to our thoughts.
I turned to Callen. "He will wake up."
Callen nodded and put an arm around my shoulders.
We entered the room. I immediately went to my father's side and I could feel Callen close by.
"Jaz, what happened?"
I turned quickly, and saw a very special agent named Anthony DiNozzo standing in the doorway holding a bag of fast food in one hand. Behind him stood Ziva, or Ziver as my dad liked to call her, and McGee.
When I heard his voice I simply couldn't keep it together anymore. Tears welled in my eyes once again as I tried to control myself.
Tony seemed to understand what I couldn't say and he immediately crossed the room and embraced me in a hug. I held him tightly, finding the same sort of brotherly comfort that I also found in Callen and even in McGee.
I vaguely heard G's voice in the background, explaining what was happening in regards to my father.
The senior agent pulled back slightly and caught my eye. "Are you really okay?"
I nodded, wiping my watery eyes. I pulled away and smiled as brightly as I could, but I'm fairly sure it appeared to be a grimace. "Callen, you've met Ziva and Tony right?"
"Yes, once a while ago. It's nice to see you again, Agent David and Agent DiNozzo. Nice to see you again too, Tim."
They exchanged pleasantries for another moment before the room fell silent.
"Tony? Have you found…anything?" I asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.
He looked at me sadly. "There was a note…along with a new body." He glanced at Ziva and McGee, who were watching me closely. Callen was at my side once more, looking at the trio.
"What did it say?" I swallowed the lump in my throat. My hands curled into fists, but stayed at my side. Callen put his hand on my shoulder, once again trying to reassure me.
McGee spoke up. "It said 'One down, one to go. I'll make sure it's permanent this time…for both of them'."
I closed my eyes for a moment. "Handwriting analysis? Fingerprints?"
"Abby's running them now." He cleared his throat. "She's a mess. I'm sure she and Ducky will be by as soon as they finish what they're doing."
I once again tried to smile appreciatively, but it failed. "I don't want them to worry too much. I'll call them soon."
The team stayed a little longer, and we conversed about mundane topics. I noticed Ziva was more quiet than usual, and stored that away for later. Tony and McGee were bantering back and forth about the best practical jokes performed in the office, and Callen was laughing along with them. They lightened my mood, and I couldn't be more grateful to have them there.
They prepared to leave and I saw that Tony pulled Callen aside and was talking to him in the corner of the small room. I wasn't feeling inclined enough to find out what they were saying. The day had already taken quite an emotional toll and I was feeling very tired again. Ziva embraced me and told me that she would give me a call after work later on. I told her that I would look forward to it. McGee gave me a kiss on the forehead.
"Jasmine, I'll talk to you later sweetheart, okay? Stay with Callen and be careful." Tony said, pulling me from behind and also planting a gentle kiss on my forehead.
I kissed him on the cheek in return, "I will, but you be safe too, okay Tony? Keep an eye on Ziva and Tim too, please. Ziva has been very quiet. Tim is probably internalizing everything and Abby is probably falling apart, and Ducky…"
"Whoa! Whoa there, slow down there, Jaz. I'll take care of everyone, I promise."
I looked at him for a long moment. "But who will take care of you?" I wondered. "Call me please if you need anything, Tony. Please. I'm here for you."
"Same to you, and I will. Love you, babe." He kissed me one last time.
"Love you, Tony." I told him as he left. I turned to Callen, who was texting on his phone while sitting on the chair.
"Callen, I think I'm going to go down to the cafeteria and get some soda or something. I'm feeling sort of rundown again."
G looked up from his phone. "I'll go with you."
I shook my head gently, feeling slightly dizzy. "No, someone should stay with Daddy."
Callen looked to the doorway. "There's two agents posted outside the door. Tony assigned them to your father."
I felt so grateful to Tony's thoughtfulness. "Come on, Peach Fuzz."
Callen rolled his eyes at the bad joke I'd used when I'd first met him and his buzzed head, but followed me out the door anyway.
We entered the cafeteria and I picked up a bottle of soda in order to give myself a sugar high. G grabbed a bag of chips and a sandwich, along with a grilled chicken salad, which I knew was for me. We paid and exited the cafeteria and made our way back up to the room.
G and I ate and talked about his latest cases that he had closed in LA. Before we knew it, it was about nine and the hospital was shutting out the lights in the halls.
I had just gotten settled into the empty bed, Callen settled in beside me, when I felt the need to ask him something, because I knew above all he would be the one to tell me the truth.
"G?" I asked, quietly.
"Yeah, baby?" His voice was slightly slurred, and I knew he had just been about to fall asleep. I knew that if I apologized and told him to forget it, however, he would just insist on hearing it and would take more time.
"Do you think Daddy will wake up?" As I asked him the question I was watching my unresponsive father, remembering the nurse's words telling me that he might be able to hear what was said around him.
"I know he will. Tomorrow we will go to your house to get some of your belongings." He reminded me, pressing a kiss to the back of my hair.
A/N: Please remember to review! Thank you for reading. :)
